The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُقَاتِلٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ أَصَابَتِ النَّاسَ سَنَةٌ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَخْطُبُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ قَامَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، هَلَكَ الْمَالُ وَجَاعَ الْعِيَالُ، فَادْعُ اللَّهَ لَنَا أَنْ يَسْقِيَنَا. قَالَ فَرَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَيْهِ، وَمَا فِي السَّمَاءِ قَزَعَةٌ، قَالَ فَثَارَ سَحَابٌ أَمْثَالُ الْجِبَالِ، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ عَنْ مِنْبَرِهِ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ الْمَطَرَ يَتَحَادَرُ عَلَى لِحْيَتِهِ، قَالَ فَمُطِرْنَا يَوْمَنَا ذَلِكَ، وَفِي الْغَدِ وَمِنْ بَعْدِ الْغَدِ وَالَّذِي يَلِيهِ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ الأُخْرَى، فَقَامَ ذَلِكَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ أَوْ رَجُلٌ غَيْرُهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، تَهَدَّمَ الْبِنَاءُ وَغَرِقَ الْمَالُ، فَادْعُ اللَّهَ لَنَا. فَرَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَيْهِ وَقَالَ
" اللَّهُمَّ حَوَالَيْنَا وَلاَ عَلَيْنَا ". قَالَ فَمَا جَعَلَ يُشِيرُ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى نَاحِيَةٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلاَّ تَفَرَّجَتْ حَتَّى صَارَتِ الْمَدِينَةُ فِي مِثْلِ الْجَوْبَةِ، حَتَّى سَالَ الْوَادِي ـ وَادِي قَنَاةَ ـ شَهْرًا. قَالَ فَلَمْ يَجِئْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ نَاحِيَةٍ إِلاَّ حَدَّثَ بِالْجَوْدِ.
In the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) the people were afflicted with a (famine) year. While the
Prophet was delivering the Khutba (sermon) on the pulpit on a Friday, a Bedouin stood up and said,
"O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! The livestock are dying and the families (offspring) are hungry: please pray to
Allah to bless us with rain." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) raised both his hands towards the sky and at that time
there was not a trace of cloud in they sky. Then the clouds started gathering like mountains. Before he
got down from the pulpit I saw rainwater trickling down his beard. It rained that day, the next day, the
third day, the fourth day and till the next Friday, when the same Bedouin or some other person stood
up (during the Friday Khutba) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! The houses have collapsed and the
livestock are drowned. Please invoke Allah for us." So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) raised both his hands and said,
"O Allah! Around us and not on us." Whichever side the Prophet (ﷺ) directed his hand, the clouds
dispersed from there till a hole (in the clouds) was formed over Medina. The valley of Qanat remained
flowing (with water) for one month and none, came from outside who didn't talk about the abundant
rain.
Narrated by Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Context
During a time of famine, a Bedouin approached the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) while he was delivering a sermon and pleaded for rain. The Prophet (ﷺ) raised his hands in supplication, and miraculously, clouds gathered and rain poured down abundantly. This event not only showcased the power of prayer but also highlighted the Prophet's (ﷺ) compassion for his community's struggles.
Modern Application
This hadith emphasizes the importance of making dua, especially in times of need. Today, individuals can reflect on their own challenges and turn to prayer, seeking divine assistance in their lives, whether for personal struggles or for the well-being of their community.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Supplication and Blessings in Food because it illustrates the Prophet's (ﷺ) response to a community's dire need through prayer, leading to a significant blessing of rain.
And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.
Do you not see that Allah drives clouds? Then He brings them together, then He makes them into a mass, and you see the rain emerge from within it. And He sends down from the sky, mountains [of clouds] within which is hail, and He strikes with it whom He wills and averts it from whom He wills. The flash of its lightening almost takes away the eyesight.
The example of [this] worldly life is but like rain which We have sent down from the sky that the plants of the earth absorb - [those] from which men and livestock eat - until, when the earth has taken on its adornment and is beautified and its people suppose that they have capability over it, there comes to it Our command by night or by day, and We make it as a harvest, as if it had not flourished yesterday. Thus do We explain in detail the signs for a people who give thought.
This hadith is #1005 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Invoking Allah for Rain (Istisqaa). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Anas bin Malik:.